NHTSA Complaint #10245421 — 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

APRIL OF 2006 I PURCHASED MY 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND. ABOUT 2WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE HEATER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BLEND DOORS WHERE BROKEN OR NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1000 TO FIX AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED. I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT UNTIL THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. JUST OVER 1 YEAR LATER IN AUGUST OF 2007, I NOTICED THAT THE ABILITY TO DIRECT AIR TO SPECIFIC VENTS, STOPPED WORKING, NOW THE AIR JUST BLOWS INTO THE DASH. I HAVE GONE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE RECIRCULATE DOOR, WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO BE CHANGED WHEN THE BLEND DOORS WHERE REPLACED, ACCORDING TO THEIR "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN", WHICH WAS NOT DONE WHEN THE BLEND DOORS WHERE REPLACED. THE COST TO DO THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1000 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS WHEN THE BLEND DOORS WHERE REPLACED, EXCEPT THIS TIME THEY WILL REPLACE THE RECIRCULATE DOORS. I REALLY DIDN'T REALIZE THE SAFETY ISSUE THESE COMPONENTS POSED, UNTIL I DROVE IN A SNOW CLIMATE. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I LITERALLY HAD TO REACH FORWARD WIPE THE WINDSHIELD EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER TO SEE. IT WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THESE FAILED COMPONENTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED LUXURY FEATURES, SUCH AS AC, IT'S CONSIDERED A SAFETY FEATURE. THERE IS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH LEVEL OF COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES, AND CHRYSLER HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. DEFROSTERS ARE A SAFETY FEATURE. IN COLD CLIMATES YOU CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WITHOUT THEM. WHEN IS THE MANUFACTURER HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY PARTS THAT POSE A SAFETY RISK? DOES SOMETHING HAVE TO HAPPEN? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED, POSSIBLY WORSE? THE DEALERSHIPS ARE CAPITALIZING THE CONSUMERS ARE HURTING. *TR